Universal joint



F. A. GRRETT UNIVERSAL JOINT Nov. 29, 1932.

OriginalFiled July 30. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l F. A. GARRETT UNIVERSAL JOINT Nov. 29, 1932.

Original Filed July 50, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 8.

...U m. 6.@ A F. f Q/ 6 .S Fd

Patented Nov. 2.9, 19,320

.UNITED STATES:

PATENToFFlcE y FRANCIS ALBERT GARRETT, OF IPSWICH, ENGLAND, .ASSIGNOR TO RANSOMES, JEFFERIES, LIMITED, OFORWELL WORKS, IPSWICH, IlfllfGrI...Al\TDA j UNIVERSAL JOINT Original application led July 30, 1930, Serial No. 471,780, and in Great Britain August 29, 1929. Divided and this application led` .Tune 15, 1931. Serial No. 544,603.

The invention relates to universal joints for cardan and other shaftsand more particularly to a joint of the type having a-torque ring, with four radial projections or cross pins, arranged to form a reservoir forja lubricant which is fed under centrifugal action to the bearings of the cross pins, through channels in the cross pins, being a division of application #471,780, filed July 30, 1930.

Under ordinary circumstances, the speed at which the torque ring rotates would determine the amount of oil to be fed to the bearings, and so at very high speeds, the bearings would become flooded'with lubricant owing to the great centrifugal forces set up.

The objects of the present invention arejto avoid all the above-mentioned disadvantages by causing the oil to pass in small doses to the bearings under the control of a valve which is unaffected by centrifugal forces, and to provide suitable means to prevent the creation of a partial vacuum in the reservoir and the ingress of grit and other harmful matter into the bearings, and to'provide va joint which `is both light and strong.

With the above objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiments of the herein disclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein similar reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the figures:

Figure l is a sectional elevation through a complete universal joint.

Figure 2 is an outside elevation of a complete universal joint.

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of one form of dosing valve on the line III-III, Figure 4.

Figure 4 is a section'on the line IV-IV, Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation corresponding to Figure 3 of an alternative form f of dosing valve. Y

Figures 6 and 7 are sectional elevations showing two forms of anti-vacuum valve.

Figure Sis a sectionalelevation showing the bearing bush of one ofthe cross-pins.

Figures 9 and l0 are sectional views of two formsfof packing rings for the crosspins bearings.v y

Figure 1l is a perspective view of one fork.

YReferring to Figure l of the accompany-ing drawings, a' torque. ring 5 has four radial projections ,or .cross-pins 6 which are journalled in bushes7 firmly securedvin bearings in the forks 3 and 4 by means of the caps '8;

Thetorque ring 5 is closed byplates 35 to form an oil reservoir 37 in which is situated a'valve box 36.`

The valve boxy 36 is connected by four radial oilfeed pipes 38t`o the ends of the cross pins 6. Hardened steel discs 34 are inserted betweeny the ends of the` cross-pins and the ends of the cup like bushes 7.

`The passage of oil to the cross-pin bearings is controlled by a-suitable dosing valve, one form of which is shown in Figures 3 and 4.

The valve box 36 has two conical check. valves39 held normally to the valve seats 40 by alight spring 4l. Y

The check valves are adapted to permit of only a very restricted passage of oil. In orderthat the oil shall only passat intervals, or in small doses, the valves are adapted to be opened and closed intermittently during. theI rotation of the 4universal joint. The vibrations set up due to angular transverse oscillations of the torque ring 5 are utilized for this purpose, for example, each valve 39has a relatively large spigot 42arranged on 0r parallel'to the rotary geometrical axis ofthe joint, that is, to the centre line of the torque ring 5, but to one side of the centre lines or axes of the cross-pins 6. Each valve seat 40 has a central flanged extension 43 surrounding the correspondingval-ve. spigot 42 so as to leavey a restricted oil passage 44 whenv the valve is open. j i l The valves vibrate intermittently under their inertia when the torquering 5 oscillates, so that oil passes in small doses. l y

A valve boX with a single check valve 39, as shown in `Figure 5, may be used.

, In order to ensure adequate feeding of oil from thereservoir 37 andto avoid a tendencyv 100 for dirt or water being drawn past the crosspins 6, means are provided to admit air to the reservoir so as to prevent the formation of a vacuum. Suitable means are shown in Figures 6 and 7 In Figure 6, an antivacuum valve is shown in the form of a disc 45 held to its seat 46 by a spring 47 to close an air inlet-hole 48, the spring yielding and allowing the disc to move slightly ofi' the seat 46 when the pressure of the atmosphere is sufficiently greater than the pressure in the reser- Voir. In Figure 7, the air inlet-hole 48 is controlled by a disc 45 held to its seat 46 by a leaf spring 47.

In order to avoid leakage of oil out of the cups 7 and to prevent dirt or water entering, the bearing cups are provided with packing rings 49 between them and the adjacent surfaces of the torque rings 5. rFhese are inserted in grooves 50 and may be held in position by springs 5l, as indicated in Figure l0, or by rubber or other resilient packing rings 52, as indicated in Figure 9. The packing rings 49 may be of graphite carbon, or a suitable metal such as cast iron, which is selflubricating, that is to say, will not seize or result in undue friction in the event of the rubbing surfaces becoming dry. The packing rings 49 are normally lubricated by the oil between the pins 6 and Vthe bearing cups 7.

The forks 3 and 4 of the universal joints are preferably of partial spherical form, aS indicated, to ensure strength with lightness in construction. That is, both their inner and outer surfaces are spherical. They may be further strengthened by ribs 53, as shown in Figure 2, and further may be cross-tied by tie-bolts 54 to prevent them springing apart under excessive shock or stress when the cardan shaft is used on a vehicle running on rough roads.

I claim:

l. A universal joint comprising a torque ring, a valve box carried by the torque ring, a check valve in said box, and a closing spring for said valve, said valve being adapted under oscillation of said torque ring to open and to close intermittently to control the passage of oil into said box, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

2. A universal joint including a torque ring, an oil reservoir in said torque ring, a valve for controlling communication between said oil reservoir and the joint members, said valve being 'arranged on the aXis of the ring and adapted to be opened by the oscillations of the ring in the operation of the joint, and a cowl surrounding the valve and providing for the isolation of a small quantity of oil from the oil reservoir prior to the opening of the valve.

8. A universal joint including a torque ring, an oil reservoir in said torque ring, an oil supply Surrounding the torque ring,

'a valve arranged in the axis of the torque ring to establish communication between the reservoir and the oil supply, said valve including a tapered spigot of sufficient Weight to possess appreciable inertia, and a cowl surrounding the spigot and at all times open to the oil supply to isolate a small quantity of oil within the cowl from the oil supply prior to the opening of the valve for the ad-l mission of such oil to the reservoir, the weight of the spigot tending to so increase the inertia of the valve as to thereby provide material resistance to an alteration in the direction of rotation of the valve axis in correspondence with the oscillating torque ring.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

FRANCIS ALBERT GARRETT. 

